While Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can start at any age, it often presents in patients between the ages of 30 and 50 years. On average, symptoms begin to present approximately 10 years after a psoriasis diagnosis. While it is less common, people can develop PsA without having psoriasis.

Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of PsA are critical to relieving pain and inflammation and helping to prevent joint damage. Furthermore, delaying treatment by as little as six months can result in permanent joint damage, according to studies.

The PsA treatments we have currently were barely a dream a generation ago. But curing PsA remains such a dream. One big reason: the lack of a diagnostic test. NPF launched the PsA Diagnostic Test Grant to fill that gap.

This grant program funded six first-year, proof-of-concept proposals that have the potential to achieve this goal within five years. Grant recipients include Vinod Chandran, M.B., B.S., M.D., D.M., Ph.D.; Bingjian Feng, Ph.D.; Wilson Liao, M.D.; Ananta Paine, Ph.D.; Siba Raychaudhuri, M.D.; and Jose Scher, M.D.

Following a 1-year, $100,000 extension, awardees underwent a competitive renewal application for subsequent funding. Due to the high caliber of preliminary data and project submissions, NPF awarded two meritorious applicants, Vinod Chandran, MBBS, M.D., D.M., Ph.D., and Jose Scher, M.D. Dr. Scher’s project was combined with Dr. Wilson Liao’s initial application to support a joint collaboration between the awardees with a similar project focus at a higher dollar amount to support the collaborative project continuation. Renewal awardees will receive $300,000 and $350,000 respectively per year for years 3 through 5 of the projects to complete research, development, and validation, contingent on satisfactory progress.

Currently Funded Projects

NPF is determined to contribute to the creation of a PsA diagnostic test as the first step on the road to a cure. A diagnostic test will dramatically reduce the guesswork and the long delays in reaching a diagnosis and beginning treatment.

Driven by NPF’s 2020-2024 strategic plan, the PsA project, of which the PsA Diagnostic Test Grant is a part, focuses on four areas of impact:

• Decreasing the time to diagnosis
• Helping those with PsA better manage their disease
• Reducing barriers to health care and treatments
• Improving understanding of PsA symptoms, disease management, and impact on patient quality of life among health care providers